She was born September 19, 1939, near Holland, Indiana to Melvin W.L. and Mabel E. (Langebrake) Bartelt. She married Allen L. Bilderback on June 18, 1960, at Zoar Methodist Church.

Barbara was employed for 41 years at Southridge High School by the Southwest Dubois County School Corporation. She was a lifelong member of Zoar United Methodist Church where she served on the administrative council, participated in the United Methodist Women, and taught Sunday school for sixty years. Barbara enjoyed gardening, Raider athletics, spending time with her family, and vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Michael L. Bilderback; one daughter, Lynne (Bilderback) Weber Messmer; her sister, Lois Mae Bartelt; and son-in-law, Norman Leo Weber, Jr.